Be Audience in a Show Taping
It’s fun—and free—to attend the tapings of popular television shows shot in New York City. You get to see huge stars up close, and if you’re lucky, your friends at home might even see you on TV.
There’s no guarantee to get tickets if you wait to get them on the day of the show taping so it’s better to reserve online and check in with enough time since tickets are released in excess there’s no guarantee admission even with reservations. Some shows have standby if you’re willing to wait in line but there’s no guarantee you’ll get in.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Airs Monday-Thursday at 11pm on Comedy Central.
It Parodies politics, pop culture, entertainment and news.
Ticket Info:
Go to showclix.com; tickets released on a gradual basis, so it pays to keep visiting the website.
Show Requirements:
18 or older to attend. Tickets released in excess of studio capacity, so admission is not guaranteed, even with reservations. No cameras or recording devices allowed.
Location:
733 Eleventh Ave. (bet. W. 51st and W. 52nd Sts.)
Schedule:
Tapings are Mondays-Thursdays at 6pm and last until around 7:15pm.
You can check in starting at 2:30pm, when tickets will be distributed and you’ll be given a time to return (around 4:30pm or so).
The Dr. Oz Show (syndicated)
Check local listings for channels and air times.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University, discusses health issues and dispenses advice in front of a live studio audience on The Dr. Oz Show.
Audience members are sometimes contacted in advance and asked to participate in on-air segments.
Ticket Info:
Tickets are available online on their website. For standby tickets, an audience staffer will be at ABC Studios at 320 W. 66th St., at 8:50am and 1:50pm on most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Show Requirements:
18 or older to attend. Tickets are nontransferable, so bring a photo ID. No cameras or recording devices allowed. The show has a dress code, and those who don’t follow it might not be admitted.
Location:
320 W. 66th St. (bet. West End Ave. and Freedom Place)
Schedule:
During the season, the show tapes twice a day, three days a week, at 10am and 3pm (specific shooting days vary). Audience members must arrive at least 90 minutes early.
Good Morning America (ABC)
Airs live on weekdays at 7am.
Catch Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Lara Spencer, Amy Robach and Ginger Zee on Good Morning America, ABC’s morning news and lifestyle program,.
Ticket Info:
To receive tickets, submit your request online at their website.
Show Requirements:
Bring a valid photo ID. Bags should not be larger than a basic purse. Neither signs nor clothing should endorse a business or product, nor should they feature a website or an address. You will not be admitted if you bring such.
Location:
Times Square at Broadway and West 44th Street
Schedule:
Monday-Friday from 7 to 9am. (There is no studio audience for the weekend edition.)
Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo)
Airing dates varies.
James Lipton interviews entertainers at Pace University on Inside the Actors Studio, which is actually a seminar for master’s degree students at the school. Episodes consist mostly of one-on-one interviews between Lipton and the guests. Shoots last up to four hours (the conversations are edited down for television).
Ticket Info:
Standby tickets are sometimes available to the general public, and to get them, you have to wait in line the day of the show outside of the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts where the show is recorded. Sign up for Pace’s mailing list to find out when the shows will be taped. Please note that waiting on the standby line does not guarantee you a ticket.
Show Requirements:
18 or older to attend. No food, beverages, gum chewing, knitting or hats allowed. Those wearing clothes with writing or logos may be required to sit out of the camera shot. No cameras or cell phones allowed.
Location:
Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, Pace University, 3 Spruce St. (bet. William and Gold Sts.)
Schedule:
There is no set schedule, but information about upcoming episodes is posted on www.schimmel.pace.edu and sent out to a mailing list. Arrive one hour before showtime.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Check your local listing for airing dates and times.
John Oliver recaps the week’s current events with his whip-smart sense of humor.
Ticket Info:
Tickets are available at www.lastweektickets.com up to two and a half weeks in advance of taping dates.
Show Requirements:
18 years old to attend.
Location:
The CBS Broadcast Center, 528 W. 57th St. (bet. Tenth and Eleventh Aves.)
Schedule:
Last Week Tonight tapes most Sundays at 6:15pm. Arrive at least 40 minutes prior to the start time.
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
Airs Monday-Friday 12:35pm.
Seth Meyers heads up Late Night news in a fun and satirical way.
Ticket Info:
For free tickets to future shows, call 212-664-3056 (ticket lines are open Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Eastern Time) or go online. Tickets are generally booked four to six weeks in advance. Separate tickets to see Meyers rehearse his monologue are available on show dates at the Shop at NBC Studios (30 Rockefeller Plaza, via the Sixth Avenue entrance), at 12:30pm.
Show Requirements:
16 or older, and photo ID is required. Individuals may not attend more than one show taping every four months. No groups larger than four people allowed. No luggage, backpacks, or large shopping bags allowed. Standby tickets (one per person) are handed out at 9am on the mornings of tapings in front of the store; arrive early.
Location:
Studio 8G, 30 Rockefeller Plaza (bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves. and W. 49th and W. 50th Sts.)
Schedule:
Late Night with Seth Meyers usually tapes Monday-Thursday at 6:30pm. Please arrive no later than 5pm.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Airs weeknights at 11:35pm.
After 20-plus years of being fronted by David Letterman, The Late Show welcomed a new host on in late 2015. Stephen Colbert presents news in a satirical way with shenanigans and a current-events bent, but celebrities and musical acts share the stage too.
Ticket Info:
To get tickets, go online. It can be hard to score them, so check frequently and plan well ahead.
Show Requirements:
18 or older to attend. Each person is entitled to two tickets (the guest’s name must be on the ticket; tickets are not transferable). Bring photo ID. Phones, pagers, cameras or recording devices are not allowed; food and drink are prohibited as well. You may apply for tickets only once in a six-month period; those who have already attended a show are not eligible to attend for another six months from the date of attendance.
Location:
1697 Broadway (bet. W. 53rd and W. 54th Sts.)
Schedule: Monday-Friday at 5:30pm; arrive no later than 3pm. For more information, call 212-975-8800.
Live! with Kelly & Michael (syndicated)
Airs live on weekdays from 9am to 10am.
Live! with Kelly & Michael, hosted by Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, is a popular syndicated morning talk show.
Ticket Info:
The wait may be long for advance tickets, but it is still possible to get same-day tickets. To obtain tickets in advance, find an open day and fill out the ticket-request form online. To get same-day tickets, arrive at the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 67th Street as early as 7am for a standby number. After ticket holders are seated, standbys are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Show Requirements:
Children 10-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult; those under 10 are not allowed. Cameras are allowed, but flash photography is prohibited.
Location:
The studio is at 7 Lincoln Square, at the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and West 67th Street.
Schedule:
Broadcasts live from 9am to 10am on weekdays. Ticket holders should arrive at the studio by or before 7:45am.
The Meredith Vieira Show (syndicated)
Check your local listings for airing days and times.
On The Meredith Vieira Show, the host—also known for her stints onToday, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and The View—talks to celebrity guests and facilitates segments like this one.
Ticket Info: You can request tickets through the show’s online form. Standby tickets are released at 8am for the morning taping and noon for the afternoon one.
Show Requirements:
Younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, but must be at least 16 years old. No backpacks, luggage or shopping bags are allowed into the studio.
Location:
30 Rockefeller Plaza (bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves. and W. 49th and W. 50th Sts.)
Schedule:
Mondays-Thursdays either once or twice a day (10am and 2pm). You can find the most up-to-date schedule on the show’s official website.
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (Comedy Central)
Airs at 11:30pm Monday-Thursday.
Topical news items with the help of a panel of personalities—politicians, comedians, actors, journalists and so forth.
Ticket Info:
Reserve tickets online; you can get up to four at a time, and they are generally more available than for other shows.
Show Requirements:
18 or older. Bring photo ID. No cameras or recording devices are allowed.
Location:
513 W. 54th St. (bet. Tenth and Eleventh Aves.)
Schedule:
Monday-Thursday at 6pm. Arrive no later than 4:30pm.
The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated)
Check local listings for channels and air times.
Celebrity chef talks with famous guests, welcomes music stars and—of course—cooks.
Ticket Info:
Go to rachaelrayshow.com. Standby tickets may be available too; show up at least an hour before taping times.
Show Requirements:
16 or older and you may attend only one taping per season. Bring photo ID. The show enforces a business-casual dress code.
Location:
Chelsea Television Studios, 221 W. 26th St. (bet. Seventh and Eighth Aves.)
Schedule:
Tuesdays-Thursdays at 11am, 2:30pm and 4:15pm (some days there may just be two shows); audience members should arrive at least an hour ahead of time.
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Airing at 11:30pm on Saturdays.
NYC institution Saturday Night Live is a live comedy and entertainment.
It features celebrity guest hosts and musical performances.
Ticket Info:
Tickets are given out once a year through a lottery. To enter, send an email to snltickets@nbcuni.com during the month of August only (in advance of the upcoming season). Include all contact information and do not request a specific date. One email per household allowed. Winners will each receive two tickets for a specific show date and performance (dress rehearsal or live show). You will be notified only if you are selected.
Standby tickets (one per person) are distributed at 7am on the West 49th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza on the mornings of the tapings. You can choose between the 8pm dress rehearsal and the 11:30pm live taping, though you’re not guaranteed admission.
Show Requirements:
16 or older to attend. Standby-line members must remain in line at all times (aside from minimal, necessary breaks).
Location:
30 Rockefeller Plaza (bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves. and W. 49th and W. 50th Sts.)
Schedule: On Saturdays, arrive no later than 7:15pm for the 8pm dress rehearsal and 10:45pm for the 11:30pm live show.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
The show airs Monday-Friday at 11:30pm.
NBC’s longest-running late-night franchise has returned to its ancestral (and rightful) home in New York City, and host Jimmy Fallon has made it a hot ticket and social media talking point.
Ticket Info:
To book free tickets, visit tonightshowtix.com; you’ll need to sign up for www.1iota.com before applying. The ticket release date is posted on the shows Twitter page; each month’s block opens up roughly a month in advance. Standby tickets are distributed at 9am under the NBC marquee on the 49th Street side of 30 Rock; line up early to have a chance (though you’re still not guaranteed admission). The show also offers the chance to get a ticket for monologue rehearsal; the same requirements below, also through www.1iota.com .
Show Requirements:
16 or older, and photo ID is required. Individuals may not attend more than one show taping every six months. No groups larger than four people allowed. Audience members may not use cell phones, cameras or other electronic devices in the studio.
Location:
Studio 6B, 30 Rockefeller Plaza (bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves. and W. 49th and W. 50th Sts.)
Schedule:
Mondays-Fridays at 5pm; arrive no later than 3:15pm.
The View (ABC)
The show airs weekdays at 11am.
Daily discussion of current events and interviews celebrity guests.
Ticket Info:
Apply for tickets online at www.1iota.com. For day-of-show standby tickets, pick up a number from an audience associate between 8am and 9am at the audience entrance.
Show Requirements:
16 or older to attend.
Location:
57 W. 66th St. (bet. Columbus Ave. and Central Park West); note that you can write to that address to try to request tickets.
Schedule:
Arrive by 9:30am, around an hour and a half before airtime.
The Wendy Williams Show (syndicated and on BET)
Check local listings for channels and air times.
The Wendy Williams dishes outrageous celebrity gossip and interviews famous guests. She even invites audience members onto the set for a mini dance party before her show starts.
Ticket Info:
Visit wendyshow.com to reserve up to five tickets. For standby tickets, arrive at the studio no later than 8:30am on the day of the show.
Show Requirements:
18 or older to attend. Bring your email confirmation but leave hats, sunglasses, costumes, shirts with logos or writing, shorts and casual tank tops at home.
Location:
Chelsea Television Studios, 221 W. 26th St. (bet. Seventh and Eighth Aves.)
Schedule:
Broadcast live at 10am Monday-Thursday, and another show is taped on Thursdays (and some Tuesdays) at 1:30pm. Audience members must arrive at least two hours early.
